![Senator Headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/4_3_small/public/02-10-15_official_hs_omara-hs-040_0.jpg?itok=gJ9N77KJ)
A MILLION REASONS WHY
Thomas F. O'Mara
June 5, 2015
![](/sites/default/files/styles/760x377/public/medicaid-for-gastric-sleeve_1_0.jpg?itok=gSyRWkSW)
Mayors, county executives and other local officials throughout the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions, and statewide, continue to point to Medicaid as their heaviest financial burden.
That's why recent reports are so troubling.
These reports include two audits by the state comptroller’s office continuing to show that despite years of legislative efforts to rid New York’s Medicaid system of abuse, fraud and waste – efforts that included the creation of the Office of Medicaid Inspector General nearly a decade ago – not enough is being done.
In one prominent case earlier this year, nine New York doctors were indicted in Brooklyn as part of a $7-million Medicaid fraud scheme which took advantage of thousands of homeless people by luring them into offices for unnecessary medical testing in exchange for free sneakers.
Recent legislation approved by the Senate would help root out Medicaid abuse, fraud and waste.
Share this Article or Press Release
Newsroom
Go to Newsroom![Senator O'Mara was joined in 2016 by Food Bank of the Southern Tier President Natasha Thompson and Senator Fred Akshar to urge the enactment of the "Farm to Food Bank" legislation. They are joining forces again this year to fight for the legislation's enactment after Governor Cuomo vetoed the measure last year.](/sites/default/files/styles/760x377/public/foodbankstier_newweb_2.jpg?itok=4CKxUHm1)
![Senator O'Mara shares his weekly perspective on issues facing New York State government.](/sites/default/files/styles/760x377/public/weeklycolumn-image2_2.jpg?itok=345o1W4Q)
!["Heroin and opioid abuse is devastating lives in Penn Yan, Hornell, Ithaca, Elmira and many other communities throughout the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions, and statewide. Local input will remain the driving force behind the actions we take to strengthen the state-local partnership critical to putting in place the most effective strategy of law enforcement, awareness and education, and treatment and prevention," said Senator O'Mara, who sponsored a task force forum in Penn Yan last year.](/sites/default/files/styles/760x377/public/herointaskforce-pennyan2_newweb2_2.jpg?itok=Wv6SELt_)